Presumed Guilty – by Peter Collier

On Fox News Sunday, Chris Wallace gave Jack Reed, Democratic Senator from Rhode Island, an opportunity to defend the decision to give KSM a civilian trial in New York. After enumerating the many injuries this could cause the country, Wallace asked Reed for one advantage Attorney General Holder’s decision might bring. Reed, well known as a talking head for the White House, said that such a trial will “stand as a symbol in the world of something different than what the terrorists represent.”

That this comment comes shortly after the President bowed deeply to the Japanese emperor (an obeisance even more groveling than the one he lied about having offered Saudi King Abdullah this past spring) is, as my former Marxist friends used to say, no accident. This administration is obsessed with American guilt–so ambivalent about our country’s intrinsic meaning that it feels it must invent a new symbolism to convince the rest of the world that we are a good and decent nation. Other countries may be on the fence about whether we’re all that different from the terrorists, the logic of Reed’s comment seemed to suggest, so we must have a show trial to convince them that we are.

But while Reed smugly congratulates the administration for setting up a global civics lesson, KSM must be licking his chops and thanking Allah that nobody listened to him when he demanded to be put to death. Here he has an opportunity, courtesy of the chief law enforcement officer of the U.S., no less, to further the destruction he caused on 9/11. That attack hit buildings and bodies; the one he will soon be able to launch from a New York courtroom could affect American security even more profoundly since it will be directed at all the safeguards put into effect in the eight years since the first attack. In this regard, Holder has given KSM the opportunity to use one of the time honored techniques of the homicide bomber: set off one explosion, and then, when responders rush in to deal with the carnage, set off another that will claim an even larger number of victims.

Sen. Reed, one of those for whom 9/10 appears to be Groundhog Day, blithely dismissed the downside, but it will surely be America, as much or more than KSM himself, that will be on trial when this legal circus opens its big tent. Sources and methods of intelligence gathering, cooperation with foreign intelligence agencies, rendition, cruel and unusual incarceration, and most of all TORTURE will dominate the proceedings. The rest of the world will not get a lesson about America’s constitutional glories, but a confirmation of its worst suspicions that we are and always have been a black ops nation.

KSM will get a chance to show the blood on the Great Satan’s hands. And Eric Holder and his President will get the Truth Commission they have wanted since the election but were afraid to seek through the normal political process. In this regard, at least, the trial will be win/win.

I feel a great urge to explain the perception of President Obama and what he is up to from the point of view of an old lefty. I know it's going to be tough–but here goes. I'm certain that President Obama reacting to the last 8 years of outrageous, head-shaking hubris from the last administration and its obnoxious, saber-rattling, frat boy president. You know the one. He of 'weapons of mass destruction'. He of 'Mission Accomplished'. He of the unbalanced budget. He of “fool me once…eh…eh….”. He of the noun searching for a verb. The scion of the original President Malaprop; George Herbert Walker Bush. Hmm. Am I getting warm? Embarrassed? Who me? Nah. I like my presidents dim witted and inarticulate…sorta like a mannequin. The less true vision and real leadership, the better.Not on your life, bro!I am cheering on this sparkling chevalier from Chicago’s mean streets. The fact that he can actually complete a world trip without spouting a lot of threatening national exceptionalism all over is a great relief. You betcha I'm loving this. I like the idea of being a 'good neighbor' in global politics again. I was born right after WWII when American stock on the world opinion market was high. I've watched while two Bush administrations squandered all that good will. So don't even think about calling me a bleeding heart liberal. I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy and a veteran. And I've had a love affair with this country of mine since my first Pledge of Allegiance. You betcha! You guys ought to pipe down and enjoy riding the bench this season while the big dogs play. You betcha! (Thanks, Sara. I like that phrase.)

wss25

Obama is on notice by the Va and NJ governor elections that the Dems will take the tank in 2010 unless he does something to discredit the Repubs.

Think about a public trial leading to the conclusion that 911 WTC was done with explosives. How many Repubs would be elected in 2010?

The 911 culprits should be scared.

aspacia

Lary9,

I did not vote for either Bush, however I did not fear for my security while they were POTUS. I knew they would do everything in their power to protect the USA from terrorists. However, I am really ticked off regarding how W is/was manipulated by Cheney and Rummy, along with attempting to legalize illegals, and destroying the economy.

At the moment, I truly fear Obama, and those who surround him Many he appoints are avowed Marxists, and we know what happens to the little people, you and me under communism. First, there is the Health Care Fiasco, which will raise our taxes, a fact support by the current administrations head of human services. We will be jailed and/or fined if we do not submit. Then, they will bring our troops back to control us, after they outlaws guns. Hum, think Hitler, Polpot, Stalin, et al.

A Deist, Feminist, Goy, Zionist, Freedom Loving Patriot.

Steve Chavez

TREASON now used to “create” jobs!

THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WILL NOW PAY YOU TO “GIVE AID AND COMFORT” TO THE ENEMY! WHAT A COUNTRY!

THE DEMS WERE ALL OVER THE NEWS YESTERDAY saying that if the terrorists are moved to the new Illinois prison that it “will create 3000 jobs in an area of high unemployment.” DICK DURBAN, correctly named, is leading that charge.

ONE MAN ON CNN YESTERDAY SAID “when this GENTLEMAN is moved to New York,” MEANING KSM.

THE ODDS OF ALL OF THEM WALKING ARE VERY HIGH BUT IF THEY ARE CONVICTED AND SENTENCED TO DEATH, THEY AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE APPEAL AFTER APPEAL, WHICH TAKES UP TO TEN YEARS, AND WITH OUR GREAT HISTORY OF SOME AMERICAN LAWYERS DOING ALL IN THEIR POWER TO WIN IN OUR COURT SYSTEM, A “GENTLEMAN” WILL WALK AND HE'LL PROBABLY SUE FOR WRONGFUL DETAINMENT AND “TORTURE” AT GITMO!

ON TRIAL HERE IS GEORGE BUSH AND DICK CHENEY! Obama and Holder will say: “It's their war, based on a lie, that was and is causing recruitment for real freedom fighters to protect their land from invaders, or the real terrorists! These Gentlemen were proven innocent which proves Bush and Cheney were picking boys off the streets and bringing them to Gitmo for their twisted and mindless logic. BUSH AND CHENEY SHOULD NOW BE PUT ON TRIAL FOR WAR CRIMES!!!”

therealend

And when this trial doesn't go so well, then what? My guess is a new distraction. Possibly a blaming of the previous 2 or 3 administrations, Cash for clunkers II, some new WH summit with beer being served, a new speech by President Obama that 'we proved the US is truly different from the terrorists', and possibly a new AG.

Lary, being unlike GWB doesn't guarantee success. Being more European doesn't either. Take it from me, an ex-Marxist, that the Left is not at all brilliant nor does it appreciate true brilliance. For example, the Chicago chevalier who doesn't know where Kentucky is, who claimed his uncle liberated Auschwitz, and also claimed he was conceived during the Selma march, who can't wing it in public without teleprompting. No, he doesn't spout the threatening language to our enemies, he's too busy bowing and winning awards just for being someone other than George Bush. This is the leader who appointed Sen Biden, another giant from Mensa, to be his VP. Do I even need to go into Biden's reckless recollection of history and bumbling of facts? Since these are your idols, you probably would believe me, or any of the YouTube videos, anyway. But, by all means, keep on posting.

newmexicomartha1

In addition to the points you make above, I'm also concerned that everyone is talking about the trial outcome as a fait accompli — that KSM et al will be convicted. This, alone, puts the trial at risk. If this is to be a “legitimate” trial (and I use quotes for a reason), then shouldn't “innocent until be proven guilty” be part of the conversation? As we're speaking of the obvious (GUILTY!), it's already a sham trial. For that one technicality alone, isn't it possible that this lovely bunch of coconuts could be acquitted?

Lary9

First, I have no idols. Second, although I am a classical liberal, I suffer no illusions about the primacy political thought as an engine of social change. Still I like Obama. I suppose I did wax a bit melodramatic in my descriptions but W.T.F. Everyone's allowed to get a little "wee-wee'd". (LOL) Anyhow… where you hear Obama apologizing for America, I swear I can hear him just trying to turn down flames on the world teapot by avoiding bragging on American Exceptionalism at every opportunity. We already know all that. We are the bedrock upon which Liberty orates. I hear him just trying to get the frog out of Her throat.

Robert Bernier

Every American should see this video !

The ambition of Islam to conquer the world.For centuries Islam of the militants have been on the march to conquer the world. We did not notice because we chose not to notice. The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in1920 by Hassan al-Banna in Egypt and was in deep confrontation with the Egyptian government. The current goals for Islam to achieve global domination for a Muslim Caliphate: a world under strict Islamic “Sharia” law, pulling Muslims back to the 7th Century.

Big dogs play, what a laugh. Obama is perceived as a weak inexperienced fraud by Putin of Russia who refers top him as ” Barry Obambi”, by China , and by the Muslim world as from the dhimmi mold. He will be a one failure as President.

And you are far too stupid to even suspect you are stupid.

Lary9

No comment. Your lack of wit and uncivil tone is unworthy of an intellectual descendent of Lincoln and TR.

Lary9

Sir, I can't imagine to what you refer. I have never been less than candid about my status as an old lefty.

jonascord

Standard leftist. Always insulting, always anti-american, firmly convinced that if he repeats a failed effort often enough, it will have a different result. Let me guess: The Russians weren't True Marxists, so they failed to create the Utopia that Lary9 and his Mobbed up Dear Leader will fashion at the cost of only a few million right-winger lives…

I just adore how these socialists never seem to understand why the engineering disciplines (mathmatics, cause and effect, creation), are where true genius springs from, and that social studies are where we stash the ones who are potty trained, but can't balance an equation.

Java Joe

You must be high, enjoy! Should KSM walk because he wasn't read his Miranda Rights? That could happen at the outset. Gee, I guess that'll make us good (although clueless idiot) neighbors, complete with our 4 corner kerchief a la Monty Python's village idiot.

Java Joe

If Obama believes this, he is incredibly dangerous by his own psychosis.

Lary9

Thank you. I liked your comment very much. It was thoughtful and clear. I sometimes worry that in our quest to channel “the better angels of our nature” we lefties sometimes throw out too much baby with the dirty bathwater, if you take my meaning. But I trust Obama's basic 'stuff'… the stuff of his character… the angels of his nature. Sometimes change is scary, I know. But change is all we can look forward to in this world spinning into modernity faster than a Chinaman ordering a Chevrolet or an Hindi clerk from Mumbai taking your customer service questions online for some erstwhile American company. What are you going to do when the oil is $20.a gallon and running out? When we all have to start using the muscle between our ears instead of the ones in our shoulders and back? The world is changing so fast that there really is little time to decide what's worth conserving. So the conservatives are panicking …can they save it all? Can they revert back to a sunnier time and place when we were the saviors of western Europe and one dollar was worth 10… when gas was 50 cents and kids were all white Anglos that looked like Beaver Cleaver…when jobs were plentiful and any man could be secure in supporting a family with just a HS diploma. Hmm. Times have changed. There's no turning back. My best shot has always been to plug into those “better angels” and try for some clarity. I'm sorry if that means my bullshit meter is overly sensitive and I have no time for useless claptrap about socialism and traitor-this and traitor-that. This isn’t a game. I have grandchildren that will inherit the wind if we don’t handle all these problems. Yes and that also includes crazy jihadists who want to kill us all because we don’t believe in his invisible friend Allah and that he allegedly revealed the whole Truth to a 7thcentury Bedouin merchant. What utter nonsense. To paraphrase a great American…We need to get our heads together or we will surely get beheaded apart.

Java Joe

For some reason Zionists are despised by the left in this country. I don't get it.

bushlikesdick12

Here Sniper — I will give you one:

China has far more respect for George W. than for Obama (actually, China doesn't know what to make of Obama).

The primary reason is because they can predict Bush and the Chinese don't like the unknown and especially our system of pollitics in which we have varibles of political influences coming from many fronts.

Just like their one party system, the Republican party emulates a monarchy whereas the Democratic party is far more fluid and complex and represents far more types of Americans.

There is your lesson for the day sniper

Now could you do me and the rest of us a favor now?

could you stop using the redundant cliche ÿou are far too stupid to even suspect you are stupid”?

I think the cliche from Forest Gump “stupid is is stupid does” is more appropriate for you.

aspacia

Lary9,

I have been a strong proponent of alternative energy since the 70's during the OPEC oil embargo.

I love change, and similar to you am older, but embrace technology and just purchased my fourth or is it fifth computer and second laser printer. That is, I enjoy change, but really do not believe Obama knows what he is doing. Currently, foreign leaders are playing him like a fiddle (i.e. Putin, Chavez, Ahmadinejad, UN Human Rights Council headed by the world's worst human rights violators.). Obama is out of his league, and he is printing dollars which is ruining its value. This fiasco may turn the U.S.A. into another Weimar Republic or Zimbabwe.

shmowry1

We did not need to try him on American soil to have the moral high ground. We had that already the moment those towers were hit. We lose the moral high ground when we stretch so far to show the world that we have the moral high ground. Having the moral high ground means that sometimes you will have to defend it but it never means you have to brag about it. This is a show trial plain and simple, and I agree that Obama is getting the trial of Bush/Cheney that he always wanted. Any forum where this pathetic excuse for a human being gets to talk about American “wrongs” that made him commit one of the worst atrocities in this country's history or allows him to talk about his ideals is a crime in and of itself. It's the twisting of the knife in the giant wound where the towers used to stand.

Lary9

Careful in this Blog, martha. You're starting to sound rational. That could whip these Tea Party Ravers into a froth-flecked frenzy replete with growls.Just pulling the old dog's tail.

aspacia

Also watch Fitna, and the Third Jihad for insight. I have had both these films for 6+ months.

Lary9

Here's wishing you a great Thanksgiving. Now. I've noticed that people tend to talk about Obama doing this, doing that. Same with Bush…Bush did this, did that. Whatever happened to this idea of 'we the people'? These guys are acting in our stead. We are responsible for what they and their staff do. We the people elected them. In the final analysis it is we who act through them. Is it not? And when the feces rolls down the hill it is we the people who get slammed. We are in charge of our destiny. That's how I think it's s'posed t'werk. Democracy. I still think Obama's the best guy for the CEO spot in this enterprise we call America (Inc).

aspacia

The Left caves to violence, and tend to voice support to the “poor, oppressed Muslims.' You know, the ones who have been massacring each other, and infidels for several centuries. They had Zionist because the actually believe the crap the Arabs spout (i.e. Jerusalem has no Jewish history). Say, What?? They actually make this claim along with the “The Holocaust is a myth). Read Palestinian media, also MEMRI is interesting.

Lary9

All those documentaries are good. Also, watch “Farewell Israel: Bush, Iran and the Revolt of Islam”. It's great but hard to find. There are a few fact editing errors but it's still terrific.

shmowry1

The ugly truth is this is not the O.J. Simpson trial. You won't see a large group of Americans cheering at the defendant being found innocent. The fact remains that it doesn't matter what jury you take KSM to, no juror will find him innocent. In that sense also, this is merely a show trial because taking him to this court doesn't make any difference as far as the outcome is concerned. It's a blatent attempt to say, “See, we have the moral high ground”. We don't need that to remain humble. We mete out punishment how we always have, and we don't contort our system to accommodate a defendant just because he is high profile.

Lary9

I agree wholeheartedly. I am a retired engineer and I loathe communists for the weak sisters into which they ultimately morph. I'm convinced it comes as a result of having only one brand of laundry detergent to choose.

Lary9

Jave Joe~ Aren't they the good guys in The Matrix?

Lary9

Well said brother.

BS77

I was wondering if the military could not appeal to the Supreme Court over who has the jurisdiction in this case. Why should the AG be able to simply order a change of venue? Surely there is a legal issue here. These are military prisoners, not civil prisoners. These are combatants who conspired to attack the United States in an act of war. I hope the JAGs or whomever is legally retaining these foreign terrorists, who were captured, not on US soil, but aboad, would remain under the jurisdiction of the US military until the day they are hanged.

Lary9

I'm sure you're not talking to me about anti-Americanism. Are you talkin' tome? Are you talkin' to me?…… Are you talkin' to me? (I thought I'd try this different approach. Maybe you'll see the lightbetter if I channel Travis Bickle.)

wanabfree

Lary9 I appreciate your honesty, but I am having trouble believing that even old lefties agree with the lying, dishonest ways of this administration. Mr Obama ran as a centrist and got elected as one, and we have been Had. Along with the trial of that evil duo, Bush and Cheney, we also need to include the Clintons, it's only fair. But fairness takes a back seat to hypocrisy today. So discouraging to watch the greatest country on earth go down the tubes. Don't mean to depress you, and I do appreciate your service to our country.

jallmon

Oh, sure. His iduiocy is Bush's fault…bs

jonascord

It never changes with leftists. It's nice to know that you will never realize you've been outwitted…

If they take an intelligence test and do well, it's expected. If they fail, the test was biased…

smokehouse

Poor Lary9, liberalism has damaged his small brain. You betcha! Poor Larry is an animal of liberalism. When he grows up he will understand. You betcha!

richard_iowa

This is one decision that really makes me question just how smart, or perhaps dumb, Obama is. He has everything to loose and nothing to gain. His talking heads are basically guaranteeing that this is a slam dunk. There is no question as to KSM's guilt in that he has confessed to the charges. However, the technicalities of being tried in a civilian court are enormous. I can easily see this being tossed out and if this happens Obama is toast, no matter what his contrived motives for this are.

Lary9

And I appreciate yours. I tend to agree somewhat that all the pots on this stove should avoid calling the tea kettles black.

Lary9

Surely, sir, you don't mean to suggest that I believe Bush's idiocy tobe contagious! I'll have you know, sir, that President Obama has his ownspecial Chicago strain of idiocy which is far superior to Dubya's Texasvariant.

jallmon

I agree.

stakeoutsam

If I was FBI monitoring blogs for hateful rants and raves with references to violence against POTUS, I'd have to hack out your real-time address and then me and my partner would come knock on your door for a chat. Very rash speech–loose but very rash.

bubba4

No you need to listen to sniper…he knows what Putin thinks. Sniper knows many fantastic things that most people cannot grasp…so make sure you perk up and listen when he is showering you with his grace.

bushlikesdick12

WTF?

USMCSniper

How's this for wit and uncivil Lary9. “You're ugly and your mother dresses you funny.”

USMCSniper

Lesson for the day. Lary9, Barry Obambi as Putin calls him, will be a one-term President that will do more damage to the economy with his cap and trade, the national debt with his money flowing like the monsoons, the military with his anti military and idiotic kiss ass foreign policy, to race relations with his Reverend Wright hating whitey even when you smile mindset, and the United States Jurisprudence with his Harvard (an highly overrated artsy fartsy leftist university) inflated opinion of himself. Then, again, some nutcase might take him out – hope like hell not, as that would make him a martyr instead a joke like Jimmy Carter.

USMCSniper

See, I told you you were too stupid to even suspect you were stupid. wanabfree voiced the same opinion as three former Attorney Generals and it went right by you!

USMCSniper

You said “but really do not believe Obama knows what he is doing.” Ahhh… you seen the light!!!

Ohhh,,, you mean that Obama is an inept empty suit standup silver tongued bullshit artist with zero experience at running anything in his entire life. I think he got to be President with the white guilt vote, the hate GW syndrome vote, and from the wet pantied white wigger women who secrectly want him as their mandingo man.

choppie

Well, you are seeming to forget that this person is not an American citizen and NOT deserving of the rights that go with that! He already admitted to doing it! What more do you want??

choppie

Excellent video! I am waiting for part two to load…my stupid computer. Thank you! I live in Stockholm, Sweden. In the just 6 years that I have been here, rapes, sexual assaults and murders have risen 70% ! Although the papers here are not allowed to publish names, everyone understands. As a side, the “free” health care here costs an average of 50% income tax, and 25% sales tax. However food is 'only' 12.5% taxed. Over the year, or even month, just sales tax alone cost a person more than a health insurance premium. And I waited 8 months to get a surgery that gave me my hands and arm function back, and it was a high priority case! Please, I am an American citizen and my kids and grandkids still live there. Do NOT let socialized medicine take hold. Vote them out next year!!